Wichita State University’s online M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis gives students broad preparation in behavioral science while emphasizing school-based applications, collaboration and meaningful connection with faculty and peers.
Applied behavior analysis, or ABA, is a broad field with applications across populations, settings and many areas of human functioning.
Behavior analysts use the science of behavior to address a wide range of needs in areas such as school-based behavior support, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral and mental health services, academic instruction, workplace performance, health and wellness, services for older adults, substance-use prevention and treatment, rehabilitation and community-based services.
Wichita State University’s Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis is designed to help students understand that breadth while preparing them to apply behavioral science across a variety of professional environments.
A distinctive school-based perspective
One of the features that distinguishes WSU’s ABA program is its emphasis on school-based services.
Students learn to address behavioral needs in environments where children and adolescents spend much of their day, while also developing skills that can be applied across other populations and settings. The program emphasizes collaboration with educators, families and other professionals, helping students understand how behavioral support fits within larger educational and community systems.
Students also learn to use assessment, intervention and data to make informed decisions about behavior and outcomes. The goal is to prepare graduates to view ABA as a flexible science that can be applied to a variety of socially significant behavioral needs.
This broad preparation can support career opportunities in schools, community settings and other behavioral service environments.
Online learning with connection built in
WSU’s ABA program is offered fully online, allowing students to participate regardless of geographic location. The format also provides flexibility for working professionals and students balancing graduate study with other responsibilities.
The program combines synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Asynchronous coursework gives students flexibility in when they complete portions of their work, while synchronous meetings provide regular opportunities for discussion, applied problem solving, feedback and interaction with faculty and classmates.
That combination is designed to give students the convenience of online learning while still creating opportunities to build relationships and feel connected to a professional learning community.
Broad preparation for future behavior analysts
For students considering graduate study in ABA, WSU’s program brings together three important elements: broad preparation in behavioral science, a distinctive school-based perspective and an online format designed to balance flexibility with connection.
Students are prepared to work collaboratively, apply behavioral science across different settings and use data to make meaningful decisions about behavior and outcomes.